Sometimes it's difficult to figure out the right course of action.
Say you're drunk and could use a ride home - you might simply ask a driver to do you a solid - but you can pretty much ensure a ride if you claim your (non-existent) child has been kidnapped. And what if you get stood up on a date? You could confront your date and tell him he's a louse - but wouldn't your frustration be conveyed more effectively if you got him arrested for a crime he didn't commit?